Cushion connection for vehicle construction



FL F. @@EVELLET Ai.

CUSHON CONNECTION FOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION 1925 2 Shee-Shee 1 Fils@ June 27 wip/ff R F. CQWELL ET L. CUSHION commczon' Fox VEHICLE cowswumors 7 D @nw l n .1@15 yw m WW EL. PA.. W 0 l. we..

Patented 4pr.. 27,` 1.26.

rr sir-eur reies...l`

ROBERT FULTON COWELL, OF BOGOTA, NTWJERSEY, AND FRED L. LICT, GF NEX-V.

. 'YRIL N. Y., ASSIGNORS TREE` RUBBER SHOCK INSULATGR, CDMJNY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. `Y., A CORPORA'CON 0F DELAWARE. l

CusHIoN CONNECTION ron VEHICLE consummation;

Apiilicaton filed June 27, 1925; Serial No. 39,932.

Construction, of which the follovvingis al specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to connections of the kind in which yielding non-metallic material serves as a cushioning connection and 'support between metallic parts of a inotor. vehicle one of which parts is to be connected to and supported by the other part. The i11- vent-ion has particular reference to a connection and support adapted to b e interposed between the ends of the vehicle leaf spring and the chassis traine in a motor vehicle.. Such cushion connection is illus,-

t-rated broadly in thepatent to Alfred F.l

Masury and August H. Leipert No. 1,404,876 dated January 31, v1922.4 Prior to the improvements of Masury and Leipert a leaf spring .was connected to the 4,chassis i'anie at one end by a pin passing through an eye i'crined on the end of the spring While the other end et the spring was connected .to the chassis traine by means of a link which permitted a degree of iuorenient of the end of Athespring during` flexing under load, re-

bound.- etc. In the patent to Alfred F. Masury' and August H. Leipert No. 1,463,- 655 dat/ed July 31,1923 there is disclosed yielding non-metallic connections between" both ends of the spring and the chassis of the spring and vvhich shall be capable, in

co-operation with the housing Within which l yielding non-metallic material but looking 4troni the left in Figure l.'

Figure Z3 is a vieivjshowing theblocl: according to the present invention disposed Within a housing whereby relatively ixed spring end action is attained.

Figure 4 is a View partly in elevation and partly in vsection showing the construction disclosed iu Figure 3 looking from the right in that Figure.

Figure 5- isa View showing the block disposed within a housing at the other end of the spring froinjthat' of Figure 3, ywhereby relatively free elongation of the spring is permitted. i y

Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in -section showing the' construction disclosed in Figure loolring from the left Vfraine wherein the cushion connection at one' end ot' the spring was n'iade or either diiierent dimensions or different form lor both troni the cushion connectionat the other end ot' the spring whereby relatively free elongation of the spring at one end was permitted while the other end` was relatively fiXedly confined. The present invention seeks'to provide a cushion connection of the general character discussed wherein the block of yielding non-metallic iiiaterialshallwbe the saine in shape and dimensions at both ends in that 'figure Referringl first toFigures l and 2, the block there illustrated is generally of the forni disclosed in Patent No. 1.404,87@ although embodying certain of the features and in seine respects a compensation between' features disclosed in the respective blocks at the opposite ends of the spring disclosed in -Patent No. 1,463,655. Each block of yielding non-metallic material which is preferably of .moulded rubber, is formed, in general ot a load section indicated at u a rebound section indicated at a2 and a-thriist section indicated. at a3. The thrust section .embodies some of the features found in both of the-rubber blocks illustrated in Patent' 4. thereboun'd section tion at adapted to take the shocks occasioned by starting, stopping and driving Whereas the portions a5 connecting the thrust section a3 with lthe loadend rebound 'sections are formed relatively thiclr as at a adjacent the load and rebound sections and relatively thin and flexible as at a7 adjacent the thrust section. A pad a8 is also formed upon each side of the load and reboundsections as illustrated clearly in Figa-re l2. It 4will be observed that, as initially moulded, the spring engaging surfaces a9, am, of the respective load and rebound sections lie` at an angle to each other due primarily to the forni taken bythe yielding non-metallic material in the thrust section aa and the connecting a5 While the vertical height of the rebound section increases, toward the rear, the outer faces (i12-a?? of the load and rebound sections eug curved to Aform a high'point als' at the rear side of the .load section a and a high point a (relatively speaking) at the rear of a2. The function of the various features just enumerated will be more apparent as the description proceeds and the application of the bl ock at the re.- spective ends of the spring is made more apparent.

. The application of the block to that end of the spring ivhich it is desired to retain relatively fixed will nowr be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The spring` end is indicated at b and portions thereof are turned upwardly and downwardly at 7i', b2, respectively, to provide a bearing for a seat member c formed withl la seating portion c`V to receive the surface a? of the load section of the blocks and seating portion c2 to receive the face aimof the rebound section a2 of the rubber block. Autheend of the spring, seatmember 'c is formed with a relatively large thrust surface c3 engaging the turned portions o', 62 to provide a large superficial thrust bearing surface for engageinent with the thrust section at. of the block. It is to be noted that the lfront edges c4 of the seat member are'relatively low. rllie housing While taking generally the shape of the housing disclosed in Patent No. 1,463,655 in that itis formed Lwith a housing portion proper d and a cap or closure member d differs from the housing; for the other end of the( spring illustrated in Figures 5 and 6I in several important particulars. vIn the first Vplace it is of less depth inthe longitudinal direction of the spring so that the rear wall dz compresses the thrust section a" and reduces .its vthilrnes's fron'ithat inc`li-v cated by the dotted line 1. yAlso due to the capacity ofthe rubber to jelly the shape of the thrust section is changed so as to engage substantially all ot' the; superficial bearinm surface of the thrust bearing' e as'between the pointfsQ-Q- The front wallet the housiing (l isformed with an aperture als pracport-ions nseaesr tically justsuiiicient to permit the entrance of the end ofthe spring the front 'Wall d* extending 1downwardly to engage substantially all of the outer face of the load section a as illustrated clearly in Figure 3. ln order to permit the wall el* to extend as' far down as possible theoiiter edge c4 ofthe seat o is reduced in height as pointed out hereinbefore. Rearwardly of the load section a the housing is formed with an abutment Z5 adapted with the Wall tl* to denne a seat block. Similarly block is formed D4 and a rear abutment D5 to define a seat D therebctiveem The bloclf; is, of course, retained within the housing under compres` sion, that is, the size in all'diniensions normally exceeds thediniensions oi' the receiving space provided therefor in the housing. s has been pointed out hereinbefore the block is y I p compression and to accomplish this the block is oversize. y of the load and rebound sections a, a would normally occupy the positions indi` cated in dotted lines at A, i' 12, but in View 'ot the fdrrn and position of the ,seats d, DG 'the loadv and rebound 'sections are com- '.piessed to that degree. `t will be observed .that the altitude ot 'the `block receiving space between the seats d, DG decreases toward the front so that at the load and rebound sections, iespectivelj, are tlien more coi'npiessed' than adjacent the shoulders d5, D5. This construction results in a tendency on the part ot' the block to ytorce the end the thrust section at so that the spring end is always rigidly retainedA yieldingly, ot course, Within the housing to provide the so called fixed end of vthe spring suspension. certain degree of pivotal movement about a center a? is necessary, however, at this end ot the spring` in'order to provide forspiing flexing; Within limits. rihis is accomplished by the thin portions al which are spaced d for the load section oi the. the load portion of the with a front'wall sectiony retained Within the housing under` Thus the surfaces en and am points d, llt* the" oi the spring inwardly against it'i'oiut'he rear wall of the housing due to the c 'onstiuc'rioii 'liereot and because of the- 'shape of the thrust section fr providing a tspace il' `which i'ncilitates slight pivotal increment about the point a'.

The shoulders adjacent the sides of the the pads as tenor grim contribute to the relatively rigid nature of the connection whereby the end of the spring is substantially fixed.

Figuresu and 6 disclose the connection at the other end of the spring Z2 wherein the rear end of the spring is relatively free for elongatio1i The housing is indicatedin general at', g'and is provided with a cap [gf secured to theghousing by," the bolts hf 'lfhe rear wall lg2 so .disposedthatthe epth of the housing in-thelongi-tudinal direct-ion of; the spring is greater so that-there is normally always -a' spade 5 between the thrustgsection ci" and the' rear wall g2 while therel is-also a Space' 6' between the end of the spring-end the thrust section. The upper and lower front walls ofthe housin g4. and Gf# are disposed forwardly of the seat l and G and are of relativel littleI height so as to provide an opening gs of substantial heightfor the spring in its flen-v ingand'rebound: -Small abutments gt", g5, g and g5 definel the -eat for the surfaces a and .a12 of the block. As in the modijication disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, the seats g are inclined forwardly as at go and vGtGx Vto alter the normal contour of the bloei;

shown in dotted lines at A11 and A12 so 'that the'load and'rebound sections have a constant tendency Ato force the end'of the spring inwardly within the housing to prevent the disengagement of the parts while .atthe same'time the unconstrained portions of the block indicated bythe brackets 7 per-A mit great freedom of ,movement about the pointy in flexing. The spaces 5 and 6 also contribute to this result while the relatively thin portions uT of the: block allow great freedom 'of-movement between the thrust section andthe yload and rebound sections.

, The interior transverse diameter ofthe housing ys also greater than'the housing disclosed `in 'F igures 3 and 4, in this instance, being'of such diameter as to allow the pads a8 to just touch the side walls and in this manner contribute to the freedom of mover' ment of the spring en l It will thus be seen that a cushion connection has been provided which is applicable-at either end of the spring of a motor vehicle and which is capable of a difference in function dependent upon the coacting eleinentsof the housing whereby)l overstresses of the spring or over compression of the bl clrs is avoided while atcthe same time free elongation of the spring at one end is permined. Y iO T i-ie invention is not to be deemed limited to the precise combination of the coacting elements illustrated but modifications thereofattaininle` the elect desired are to be .deemed within 4the spirit and scope of the invention. W'hat we claim 1s:

41. In a motor vehicle, a connection and spring extend, respectively, substantially identical blocks of yielding non-metallic 7o material disposed within the housings :and vengagfng the ends ofthe springs, means to confine one end ofl the spring yieldingly against relative movement, and means to afford free elongation of the spring.

' 2. In a motor vehicle, a connection and support interposed between the spring and the frame comprising housings carrie lwith the frame and intogwhich the ends of thc spring ext-end, respectively, substantially 80 identical blocks ofA yielding non-metallic material di posed within the housings under cbmpres'sion and engaging the chdsv of the springs, means to confine one end of the Aspring yieldingly against relative movei fixed and the other housing retaining a block with 'provision for free elongation of the spring.

4. As an article of manufacture, a block 1 00 of yielding non-metallic material compris ing similar load or rebound sections having seat engaging portions, ,a thrust section and connecting portions between the thrust sec-' l tion and the respective load or rebound sec- 'tions varying in thickness from the load orl rebound sections-to the thrust section.

`KAS an article of manufacture, a block -of yielding non-metallic material of .the character described .comprising identical load or rebound sections, a thrust section and connections between the thrust section and the first named sections which vary in thick-ness from the first named sections to the thrust section. t

6. As an article of manufacture, a. block of yielding non-metallic material of the character described comprising identical load or rebound sections, a thrust section 1' and connections between theA thrustsection 120 and the first named sections whichI are of reduced diameter adjacent the thrust section.

7. As an article 'of manufacture, a block y of yielding.A non-metallic material of thefcharacter `described comprising identicalY 12" load or rebound sections, a thrust sectioxt and connections between the thrust .section and the iirst named sections which vary in thickness from the first named sections to the thrust section, said load or rebound secu tions being formed with curvilinear superand the lirst named sections which are of` 'reduced diameter adjacent-the thrust section, said load or rebound sections being 'ornied with curvilinear superlicial surfaces to engage seats in a. restraining element, the

radius of curvature of the Surfaces being less proximate the thrust section.

9. As an article of manufacture, a block of' yielding non-iinetulliicl inuteriul of the character described comprising identical load 0r rebound `secti0ns,' 21 thrust lsection and connections between the thrust sectionl und the first named sections which vare', of

4reduced diameter adjacent the thrust secl tion, said loa-d oifgreboiuid sept-ions being formed with curif'ilineur superciail snr-faces to enga-ge seats in a restraining elementfthe' radius of curvature of the surfaices-beng lees proximate. the thrust section, andsaid. thruSt* and rebound sections' beingv for-fried wittn pads :ilongopposite sides thereof. This specification'signedtliis 24th olii` 1 une A.. D. 1925. 

